Definition

Noun: 1. An essential oil or perfume obtained from flowers: A fragrant, concentrated liquid extracted from the petals of flowers, typically through distillation or enfleurage. It is a highly aromatic substance used in perfumery and aromatherapy.

Usage and Examples

• As a substance or material:
  • The perfumer carefully blended the precious ottar of roses with other notes to create the signature scent.
  • A single drop of jasmine ottar can perfume an entire room.
• Referring to a specific type or source:
  • She purchased a small vial of sandalwood ottar from the market.
  • The production of ottar from damask roses is a traditional craft in some regions.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• Historical and Regional Usage: The term "ottar" (also spelled "attar" or "atr") is of Persian origin and is often associated with traditional perfumery from South Asia and the Middle East, particularly with rose oil ("attar of roses").
• Distinction from "Essential Oil": While often used synonymously with "essential oil," can sometimes specifically refer to oils obtained through traditional hydro-distillation or those that are aged and matured, acquiring a deeper, more complex fragrance over time.

Variants and Related Words

• Attar (noun): The more common alternate spelling of "ottar."
• Essential Oil (noun): A broader term for any concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants.
• Perfume (noun): A fragrant liquid typically made from essential oils and other aromatics.
• Absolute (noun): A highly concentrated, pure aromatic substance obtained from plants, often through solvent extraction.

Synonyms

• Essential oil
• Fragrance oil
• Aromatic oil
• Scent

Related Phrases and Terms

• Attar of Roses: A specific and famous type of ottar made from rose petals.
• To distill ottar: The process of extracting the fragrant oil from flowers.

Noun

1. essential oil or perfume obtained from flowers